Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-29
CORN CROPS GOOD.
And Other Grains Promise Album
dant Yield.
A Newspaper Correspondents Obser-
yatiens in IROcbS Island and Hem v
COuBties---Amusi Episodes.

a pair UI OHlCdpOf DHtLy 4Net0S cOITtS-
pondents have been making tour of
crop observations in Rock Island and
Henry counties, and they guard out the
following special to their paper under
date of Geneseo, Aug. 25:
If all the corn in the state was as
heavy as it is in the Mississippi and Rock
river bottoms in Rock Island county, H.
inois could feed the world We saw corn
growing in that sandy loan that remind
ed us of old-time Spoon river cornstalks
twelve feet high and the big ears looping
over on the ground.
The road from Reynolds to Rock Isl
and lies through a beautiful wooded
country, with but few cultivated fields
visible until the road dips over Turkey
hill and descends into the broad valley of
the Mississippi. Between this and Rock
Island oats were not so heavy as they
were in Knox or Peoria counties, and
these were scorched, as well as green
fields of corn. We lost time driving in
Milan, Rock Island and Moline, as thev
are in the country. We struck the first
toll road between Milan and Rock Island
and had to pay a hald~headed man 20
cents for the privilege of driving over the
toughest road we've seen in 200 miles
Near Rock Island we heard the doleful
droniug whistle of steamboat, and Dug
exclaimed
Great spoon! What voice that
cows got"
We had our first practical illustration
OF the shortness of the pumpkin crop
when we dined at the Harper house in
Rock Island The plump dining-roOm
girl, who blushed when Dug addressed
her as Jumbo, informed US that the
pumpkin pie was all gone at | 80 o'clock.
Harry Cleaveland, who escaped being a
member of the state senate last fall by
one vote in the republican convention,
told us at Rock Island that the corn was
good throughout the county. NotwithN
standing the difference in their legal
abilities. Mr. Cleaveland is better
guesser on the condition of the crops han
Judge Craig
We droye up the river to WATERFOWL
and east of that point. On the bottom
lands the road WAS walled i'll with corn
fields that will produce sixty bushels to
the acre. Oats yielded from twenty five
to thirty five bushels, and timothy hay
cut from one to two tons to the acre.
The hay crop is remarkable for this sea
son. The sight of from three to ten hay
stacks IN every meadow is novelty in
Illinois Just now, and valuable novelty
to the farmer who owns the stacks. A
farmer who leaned against wagon load
of watermelons and surveyed his corn
field and hay stacks with look of salts
faction, told Us the crops were better than
they had been for four years. | mention
the look of satisfaction, because, when II
is observed on farmers face, the fact is
worth preserving.
But these good crops are on the bot
tom lands only. On the high lands and
ridges grain is no better In Rock Island
county than anywhere else. Rock Island
county has plenty of good corn simply
because it has plenty ST low lands
We fcrried Rock river at Cleveland
We had much difficulty 10 finding Cieve'
land, because Cleveland isn't there. That
Is, there isn't anything there but drive
way through the woods to the river
corn field on one side of the road and {
ferry boat at the end of the road TIL,
man who owns the ferry boat reminded
US of the Spoon river native. These rive
bottoms produce men as well rs corn tina
have no equal in the world. When tn
ferrvman got bis fiatboat under way b.
inquired who we were, what our business
was and where we were going. We told
him. Then he said he had a brOthe
down in Missouri, who was farmer.
"How's his corn this year." we in
CURED.
We'll, now, I'll be jackassed if
know, he replied, taking off his straw
hat and scratching his head, meantime
smiling guilty as if about to make con
fessioD Il heered from him not Ion!
ago-that Is, got letter from him, bu
! couldn't read nary word of it. |
lest looked to me as if hen had rea chez
her foot down through a haymow ant
scratched on the paper"
"How's business with vOu?' | asked.
"Oh, tOrable" be said. 1t bowed likt
all git out here Saturday. He'd the darned
est time gettin' across you ever seed
One trip he'd Teller an his girl. HI
was little, slim Teller an she was fat
You ought to seed EN- when the wind Ut
strike EN- one way. 1t I'D spread EN- gu
like four wheeled corn marker, an theI
it I'D strike EN- tother way an slap EN-
together like man shokin oats
Five miles from GeneseO we came tC
the top of the bluff overlooking the val
ley of the Green river. The sight was
glorious. AS far as the eye could see d
trembling ocean of feathery corn>tOp'
spread ont, and the descending sun
cleaning from under heavy bank OF
clouds. plated the vast expanse with gold
There was practical beauty in the sight
There was dollars and cents in it. Tn
corn stalks of Mercer county would hav'
looked Ms well under the circumstances
but under those glowing tassel plume
and broad green leaves was hidden
. L Z =.